Author

Few of history’s men are more fascinating than eighteenth century libertine, Giacomo Casanova. Though he was a soldier, a gambler, a factory owner, French lottery official, and even a spy; it is his romantic exploits that enthrall us. He would have admitted that the pursuit of love was his life’s work. In his memoir Histoire de Ma Vie, Casanova details his amorous activities in all the vivid detail the eighteenth century would allow. He writes not to brag but to share his life’s rich experiences. In his words he tells of loving well over a hundred women by the age of forty-nine. There is indeed a reason to call someone a Casanova is to deem him a womanizer.

Not considered handsome, he had little trouble conquering the objects of his affection. How exactly did he do this? Casanova used words as cupids arrows. When he found a woman beautiful, he told her. Modern men could use this technique to their advantage. If your lady love is gorgeous, make sure you voice this to her…often.

Womankind, for all our strengths can be so fragile and insecure about our looks. Why are their so many industries that exist to only help us improve our appearance? So tell us you find us lovely, beautiful, and sexy. I am not a fan of the term hot describing a person, but if your lady likes it, go for it. It doesn’t matter if you said it yesterday and feel it should be so obvious to this gorgeous creature. Tell her again and again. You need to be honest or we will see through you, but tell her.

In my novel Conjuring Casanova I use quotes from his memoir to portray a Casanova brought from 1774 to modern time. ER doc Elizabeth Hilman cannot resist his descriptions of why he and anyone should love her. “The stuff of angels wings,” is how he describes the soft but jiggly flesh of her Lizzy’s inner arms. Now that’s a good line and I confess I made that one up. Who could resist this? It worked because he meant it, so no fatuous pick up lines please. Just tell us honestly how wonderful we are.

The perfect beach read…frothy yet satisfying like a good ice cream soda

I know readers are curious souls and I thought you might want to share the thoughts that went through my head and led me to write Conjuring Casanova. I was writing a three-book romance series which someday may see the light of publishing. It takes place in 1760 and if one is going to have romance in the eighteenth century, some understanding of the women’s underwear of that time is a must.

I worked the internet and found, “No better recordings of the ins an outs of daily life in the eighteenth century can be found than in the pages of Giacomo Casanova’s memoir, Histoire de Ma Vie.” I ordered one volume; there are twelve. In the pages I discovered this crazy-for-life, hilariously honest and gifted writer sharing forty-nine years of his everyday life. The other eleven volumes quickly filled my shelves.

I knew nothing about the man. His rep was certainly not attractive. He knew plenty about ladies undies back in the day. He was the quintessential womanizer. How could I like him so much through his words? Yet every time I read his words I felt like “my friend” was talking to me. A friend who just happened to be an eighteenth-century libertine.

One day as I held my friend’s book on my lap, devouring his words, I asked myself a simple question: What would I think of him if he was here today? Et voilà, Conjuring Casanova was born. The picture, a not-so-subtle reference to a man who spent his life in the unending pursuit of the flower of womanhood. As it happens, “Melissa” means honey bee, so how could I resist this pretty picture?

It was Stevie Wonder in an interview with Anderson Cooper who called Prince “a member of the army of love.” Prince Rogers Nelson has been gone a short time and there is certainly a little less love in the world because of his death. Giacomo Casanova and Prince were both men of great passion and love and had many more things in common than anyone might guess. Both men contributed major works in their fields, Prince in music and Casanova in literature. A deep and genuine love of women certainly tied them together across the centuries with a timeless bond. Casanova details his “love” in Histoire de Ma Vie and Prince in his many songs celebrating his sensuality.

Prince always surrounded himself with beautiful woman. “Tell Me How U Want 2 B Done,” the name of a Prince song, so passionately demonstrates his desire to please his ladies. Casanova spent much of his time pleasing too as he colorfully details in his memoir. Like Casanova, Prince chose women with talent as well as beauty. Prince did his best to promote the talent of female artists, often highlighting them in his shows to further their careers. Casanova was always concerned that none of his lovers end up worse for having loved him. He bankrupted his cloth business providing housing for factory workers who became his mistresses. His wanted to ensure the women he cared for had decent places to live and necessary furnishings—a kindness not uncommon for an elite man in the 18th century.

I think Prince would have appreciated Casanova’s clothes too. Casanova was not much of a music fan but went to the opera often just to see and be seen. The after opera gambling and gathering—a high point of the era, was really the point of Casanova’s evenings. He was much more interested in which dancer or lady in the next box would be having a late supper with him. Both men led lives steeped in carnal pleasures and creative passion, and I loved them both for their brilliant work. It makes me smile to think I can still listen to “Little Red Corvette” and read Histoire de Ma Vie. I feel their passion, and honor these great and talented souls who held deep respect for the women in their lives. No longer with us, for every note and every word, we can return their love with our appreciation.

How would Casanova have reacted to the women of Prince’s time? Wondering just that thought brought me to write Conjuring Casanova. How would an eighteenth-century libertine who lived for pleasure make his way in this graceless modern age? What would he think of our technology in the era of sexting and hookups? Would he find the women of 2016 very different from those of his time? To imagine that I needed to write a book. In it, ER Doctor Elizabeth Hillman helps Casanova deal with these questions and more when she conjures him to our 21st century. Now I know the answer to my burning question. How much fun could that be?

Giacomo Casanova had a taste for games of chance and often tried to make a living from gambling. Faro was his favorite. It was a card game much like modern Mini Baccarat. As a man, your chance in a game with Casanova would be equal, as he never cheated and often lost. As a lady, however, you would always win. He couldn’t bear to take your money. But how would he play “the poker of the stripping” in 2016?

In Conjuring Casanova ER doc and modern woman, Elizabeth Hillman learns how far the game can go when she leaves her friends with the great seducer and returns to find…a 21st century party going on. Imagine that?! Get the details, pre-order now!

Would he look into your soul with those dark eyes? Of course he would.

Would he lightly tease your lips with his tongue before he completed the kiss? When he took both your hands, covering them with kisses and worshiping your female flesh, would you surrender? Pretty likely.

That’s who he was and what he did. It wasn’t his kiss but what shone in his eyes that was irresistible—love.

Casanova loved his ladies with all that he had and all that he was. That, gents, cannot be faked and is not easy to resist. His love burned white-hot and rarely lasted.

In my novel, Conjuring Casanova, savvy Lizzy Hillman in 2016 Chicago knows all this. She has read (and re-read) the volumes of his memoir. In her extraordinary encounter with the Great Seducer, Lizzy is determined not to give in. But lover Giacomo Casanova is also famous for his timeless line: “I do not seduce, but only submit.” Could you share Lizzy’s resolve? Would you spurn the face of ardent love?